Loose-leaf binder



July 8, 194B c. H. FRANZ, JR-

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Filed July 19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'II o July 8, 1941. c. H. FRANZ, JR

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Filed July 19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 InvEntmr' I Char lasfif'ranz Jr.

IIIII1IIII Ill fittmrngga I I Patented July 8, 1941 LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Charles H. Franz, J12, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignor to The Heinn Company, Milwaukee, Wis.,

Application July 19, 1940, Serial No. 346,337

3 Claims.

This invention pertains generally to loose-leaf binders, and more particularly to binders having adjustable backs for accommodating stacks of sheets of varying thicknesses.

In binders of the foregoing type, it is old to provide ratchet devices between the adjustable covers to allow free collapse and releasably latch the same against expansion. However, as far as is known, such devices are either complicated, costly, or of a weak, flimsy structure.

Therefore, the primary object of the present invention is to improve binders of the foregoing character by the provision of a simple, sturdy and inexpensive ratchet mechanism for releasably latching binder backs against expansion, the latch being disposed centrally of the upper'and lower edges of the back, and independent of the binder posts.

Incidental to the foregoing, a more specific object of the invention resides in the provision of a rack secured to one of the binder backs centrally of its upper and lower edges, for telescopic movement in a guide secured to the adjacent overlapping back, and a latch carried by said adjacent back and slidable transversely of said rack to lock the same against relative movement in one direction.

A further object is to provide a ratchet locking mechanism positioned between the upper and lower edges of the binder backs, to allow attachment of reinforcing and telescoping guide members to said edges.

Another object resides in spacing the rack bar from the binder back to which it is attached, to overlap the adjacent back which carries the latch bar, and a retaining guide for the rack bar.

A still further object resides in the provision of releasable retaining means to normally prevent complete separation of the binder backs.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In theaccompanying drawings is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an inside, fragmentary elevation 3 areattached-in the usual manner.

of a collapsible loose-leaf binder constructed in accordance with one form of the invention, the cover flaps being open, and parts broken away and in section to more clearly illustrate structural details. I

Figure 2 is a transverse section, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a transverse section, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, longitudinal section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a similar view, showing the latch bar in release position.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the spring for releasably holding the latch bar in its adjusted position; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the latch bar.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the binder illustrated comprises a pair of overlapping metallic back angles I and 2, respectively, to which flexible cover flaps The vertical flanges 4 of the backs are reinforced by longitudinal straps 5, to which the usual telescoping binder posts 6 are secured in any suitable manner.

To normally prevent complete separation of the backs, a telescoping lock I is secured to the vertical flanges 4 centrally of the upper and lower edges of the backs. The lock I comprises a tubular member 8 having a restricted end, for slidable reception of a headed post threaded into the reinforcing strap 5 and vertical flange 4 of the back 2. A compressible spring I0 serves to cushion the posts upon collapse of the backs, and also acts to start expansion of the backs upon release of the ratchet mechanism when the backs are more or less completely collapsed.

In order to eiiect complete separation of the backs, it is merely necessary to unthread the post 9, which releases the back 2 from the lock I.

As best shown in Figure 3, a rack bar II is secured to the vertical flange ll of the back I by the reinforcing strap 5, the rack being spaced from the back I to overlay the adjacent back 2. Secured upon the back 2 is a channel guide I2 for telescopic reception of the rack bar II, and slidably mounted upon the back 2 is a latch bar I3, extending transversely through the channel guide I2 and provided at its inner end with a series of ratchet teeth I 4 for engaging teeth formed on the lower face of the rack bar II.

As will be noted in Figure 3, the teeth of both the rack bar I! and the latch I3 are inclined in one direction not only to permit free collapse of the backs, but prevent their expansion.

The latch bar I3 is slidably connected to the back 2 by headed studs or rivets l5 extending through spaced longitudinal slots 16 formed. in the latch bar, the outer end of which is provided with an angular thumb-piece I! for manipulation of the bar. Intermediate its ends, the latch bar is provided with a raised portion l8, having spaced apertures I9 for reception of a nib 20 formed on an arcuate spring 2| secured to the back 2 below the latch bar. The openings 19 are so spaced that the nib 20 will engage the same in both the release and locking positions of the latch bar, to yieldably hold the same against undesired shifting.

To further reinforce and guide the backs dur-' ing relative movement, reinforcing channels 22 are secured to the outer edges of the back 2,

which overlays the back I, and is received in the guide channels 23 secured to the back I adjacent its outer edges. I

Obviously, the edge guides serve not only as reinforcement for the backs, but also relieve strain upon the binder posts 6 and prevent canting and bind of the backs during adjusting operation.

From the foregoing explanation, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent that an exceedingly sturdy, simple and inexpensive latching mechanism has been provided for collapsible looseleaf binders, which is easily manipulated by a single operation at one edge of the binder.

An important advantage of the present invention resides in the fact that the construction of the latching mechanism permits the same to be positioned centrally of the upper and lower edges of the backs, thus requiring only a single mechanism, whereas heretofore it has been customary to provide latches at each edge of the backs. Furthermore, the prior structures were such that the backs could not be reinforced and guided as provided in the present invention.

Attention is also directed to the fact that the guide channel l2, which straddles the rack bar II, serves to securely hold the rack bar into engagement with the ratchet teeth M of the latch bar; whereas, in prior structures, the latching members had a tendency to spring apart and release the backs for undesired expansion.

I claim:

1. In a collapsible loose-leaf binder including complementary overlapping backs, a single ratchet locking mechanism secured to said backs centrally of their ends and including, a rack bar secured to one of said backs and overlapping the adjacent back, a channel guide carried by the adjacent back for telescopically receiving said rack bar, and a latch carried by said adjacent back and slidable through said guide transversely of said rack bar for locking the same against movement in one direction.

'2. In a collapsible loose-leaf binder including complementary overlapping backs, a single ratchet locking mechanism secured to said backs centrally of their ends and including, a rack bar secured to one of said backs and overlapping the adjacent back, a channel guide carried by the adjacent back for telescopically receiving said rack bar, and a latch carried by said adjacent back and slidable through said guide transversely of said rack bar for locking the same against movement in one direction, said latching member being disposed between said rack and said adjacent back.

3. In a collapsible loose-leaf binder including complementary overlapping backs, a single ratchet locking mechanism secured to said backs centrally of their ends and including, a rack bar secured to one of said backs and overlapping the adjacent back, a channel guide carried by the adjacent back for telescopically receiving said rack bar, a latch secured to said adjacent back and slidable through said guide transversely of said rack for locking the same against movement in one direction, said latching member being disposed between said rack and said adjacent back, complementary telescoping members secured to the end edges of said back for reinforcing and guiding said backs during their relative movement, and releasable means carried by the backs for preventing complete separation of the same.

CHARLES H. FRANZ, JR. 

